Water tanker strike ends after government assurance

After their second round of talks with Minister SP Velumani late in the day, the strike was called off. The organisations had held their first round of talks with SK Prabhakar, Secretary, Public Works Department. “Minister Velumani has agreed to look into our demands for forming a committee to examine the areas to draw water. Considering this and the difficulties faced by people we have decided to withdraw the protest,” said Nijalingam, president, Tamil Nadu Tanker Lorry Owners’ Association, after holding talks with Velumani at his residence. 

The Tamil Nadu Tanker Lorry Owners Association had struck work for two days after action was taken against the lorries for transporting water. Similarly, the packaged water companies too had announced a strike on Tuesday after the High Court recently restricted them from drawing water. During the talks, representatives of the Greater Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Association were assured that no packaged drinking water units would be shut down.

Due to the strike, the water situation turned grim in the city on Wednesday as many commercial centres were closed and people suffered due to shortage of bottled water in their residences.